Reports: Dodgers summon ex-Springbird OF Castellanos

Just a year ago, Alex Castellanos was patrolling right field for the Springfield Cardinals and batting cleanup right behind slugger Matt Adams.

On Thursday, the Matt Kemp-less Los Angeles Dodgers summoned Castellanos to the big leagues, according to multiple sources.

Castellanos was traded in late July 2011 for Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal. At the time, he was batting .319 (113-for-354) with 19 home runs, 21 doubles and 62 RBIs. His departure — the Dodgers assigned him then to Double-A Chattanooga — created a hardship for Adams, who hit well under .220 the rest of the season.

The Dodgers have had Castellanos playing second base and in the outfield this season at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he was batting .379 (33-for-105) with five home runs, 10 doubles, four triples and 14 RBIs.He also has stolen nine bags in 11 attempts.

About Kary Booher

Kary Booher covers the Springfield Cardinals and small colleges for the News-Leader. A native of southern Kansas, he is a graduate (and former sports editor of student newspapers) of Cowley County (Kan.) Community College and Oklahoma State University. You also may have read his work on the sports pages in Topeka and Pittsburg in Kansas and Jackson, Tenn., or once saw him in his youth water-skiing on Table Rock Lake near the Kimberling City bridge.